Stepping Outside: Celebrating the First Wild Inspiration Netwalk

Sep 24

4 min read

Updated: Sep 25

Last week marked a milestone: the very first Wild Inspiration Netwalk, a nature‑connected

leadership experience shaped by movement, landscape and a compelling body of scientific evidence about how the outdoors supports sharper thinking, more flexible cognition and better‑quality conversations.

But in truth, this moment has been years in the making; shaped by instinct, curiosity, professional growth and a deep love of nature.

A Practice Rooted in Experience

Long before I founded Hannah Collins Unlimited, nature was already shaping my leadership and facilitation work.

In my previous roles, I regularly incorporated outdoor elements into board retreats, away days and leadership workshops, choosing venues with green space, building reflective walks into the agenda, and experimenting with early “walkshops” simply because I loved working outside, and was curious about the effect it had on participants. I noticed people connected more easily, conversations deepened, and teams accessed expanded thinking that had felt out of reach indoors.

At the time, I didn’t have the language for it. I simply knew it worked.

When I launched Hannah Collins Unlimited a year and a half ago, I carried that instinct with me. My first coaching clients often met me outside, partly because we loved it, partly because it made finding somewhere to meet easy. But then I noticed a pattern in the feedback: the outdoor environment was supporting their thinking.

Even when we each walked in separate locations and talked on the phone, clients reported fresh thinking, more grounded conversations, and a clearer perspective they didn’t access indoors.

That was the moment I realised this wasn’t just a preference. It was a practice.

From Practice to Curiosity: Why Was This So Effective?

And once I recognised it as a practice, the scientist in me, naturally, started seeking more evidence: Why was this so effective? Why did people think differently outdoors? Why did conversations deepen? Why did renewed focus arrive more easily?

That curiosity led me to the nature‑based coaching practitioner community, where the science, methodology and shared passion for reconnecting leaders with the natural world made everything click. As a lifelong nature lover, and someone deeply committed to impact for nature, climate and people, bringing this work formally into my practice was a natural step (all puns intended!)

Alongside this, I began undertaking internationally accredited continuing coach education hours in nature‑based coaching, ensuring the work is grounded, responsible and aligned with recognised coaching standards. And of course, I put in place the important foundations: Ramblers Walk Leadership training, updated insurance, and sensible safety processes, so I could offer nature‑connected leadership experiences professionally and well.

Why Nature-Based Leadership Works (the Science Bit!)

For years, leaders have felt the benefits of stepping outside; sharper thinking, better‑quality conversations, more grounded decision‑making. Now the evidence base is catching up.

Here are some of the research findings that underpin the my nature-based approach:

Studies show a sweet spot at around 30–60 minutes in nature for measurable improvements in cognitive performance (Bell et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2025).
Even shorter breaks matter: a 20–30 minute ‘nature pill’ in a nearby park can lower cortisol levels (Hunter et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2019), helping people recover more quickly in the middle of demanding days.
Phytoncides (antimicrobial volatile organic compounds released by plants and trees) cross the blood–brain barrier to reduce stress hormones, lower mental fatigue, and optimise prefrontal cortex activity during cognitive tasks (Li et al., 2009).
In the early afternoon, phytoncides are at their peak, especially in environments with large, established trees (Gadye et al., 2023).
And Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, 1989/1995) continues to demonstrate how natural environments replenish directed attention, supporting more spacious thinking and more flexible cognition.

And I'm just scratching the surface here - the more I dig, the more I find!

The First Wild Inspiration Netwalk: Leadership, Landscape and Evidence in Motion

The inaugural Netwalk took place during the University of Cambridge Centre of Landscape Regneration Regenerating the British Countryside conference, a day already rich with insights about landscape, regeneration and the social dimensions of environmental change.

Stepping out onto Coe Fen, delegates carried those ideas with them into the landscape itself. Movement shifted energy. Open sky widened perspective. The soundscape: wind, water, birds, and even cattle! Became part of the reflective process.

Participants shared:

“It was a wonderful grounding experience during a busy day. I came back to the talks feeling more relaxed and focused.”

“Your energy is infectious Hannah! Thank you so much. You are so warm and welcoming.”

These reflections mirror what the science predicts: lower cortisol, restored directed attention, improved cognitive flexibility, all within the timeframe of a single lunchtime walk.

And they mirror what leaders consistently tell me: Stepping outside with me changes how they think, offering strategic insight, renewed focus, better‑quality thinking and a warm, energestic boost!

A New Chapter for Hannah Collins Unlimited

This first Netwalk marks the formal launch of my nature‑based coaching and facilitation offering, an evolution of my science‑led leadership practice and a natural extension of my mission:

To help leaders strengthen their impact for nature, climate and people.

The outdoors is not a nice‑to‑have. It is a performance environment.

And now it’s part of the core suite of ways I support leaders and teams.

What’s Next: Netwalks, Walkshops and Outdoor Away Days

With the first Netwalk complete, I’m opening up new nature‑connected options for organisations:

Wild Inspiration Netwalks: reflective walks that unlock fresh thinking, grounded presence and connection
Walkshops: facilitated outdoor sessions blending movement, dialogue and strategic insight
Outdoor Away Days: team experiences that strengthen collaboration, trust and shared purpose

All grounded in science. All designed for leaders who want to think better, lead better and feel better.